Upcoming games
Schedule data syncs from our events feed. Ticket links go to SeatGeek.
No upcoming games currently listed for Canadian Tire Centre.
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Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near Canadian Tire Centre fills early.
Getting there
Canadian Tire Centre sits in the Kanata suburb of Ottawa at 1000 Palladium Drive, roughly 25 km west of downtown Ottawa and about a 25-30 minute drive depending on traffic. There is no rail line to the arena — OC Transpo runs game-day express bus routes from downtown Ottawa park-and-ride lots and from major suburban hubs (the team and OC Transpo publish the current game-day bus schedule each season). Most fans drive in via Highway 417 (the Queensway) to the Palladium Drive exit. Arena-affiliated and adjacent surface lots ring the venue, and reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats event-day pricing. Rideshare drop-off zones are signed at the arena's main entrances. Confirm bag and entry rules on the Senators' official site before going. Note: the Senators have publicly discussed plans to build a new arena closer to downtown Ottawa in the LeBreton Flats area — confirm the current home-arena status on the team's site before booking.
The neighborhood
Kanata is a planned suburb west of Ottawa and the blocks immediately around the arena are dominated by big-box retail, office parks (Kanata North is a major tech-employment cluster), and suburban housing. There is no built-up walkable bar-and-restaurant district directly adjacent to the venue — pre-game eating happens at the arena's in-venue dining options, at the chain restaurants ringing the arena (Boston Pizza, The Keg, etc.), or back in downtown Ottawa or the ByWard Market before driving west. The Canadian Tire Centre is one of the most isolated major-league arenas in North America in terms of walkable surrounding amenities, which is a meaningful planning consideration for visitors. Travelers building a wider day are better served by pairing the visit with a downtown Ottawa morning or afternoon — Parliament Hill, the ByWard Market, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Rideau Canal are the canonical Ottawa tourist stops — before driving west for the game.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Walkable pre-game options at the arena are genuinely limited — Kanata is a planned suburb without a built-up bar-and-restaurant district adjacent to the venue, and the closest sit-down options are mall-and-office-park chains. The standard pattern is to eat in downtown Ottawa or the ByWard Market before driving west, or to lean into the arena's in-venue dining options. The closest options to the arena include Boston Pizza Kanata (the chain Canadian sports-bar a short walk west), The Keg Steakhouse Kanata (the destination Canadian steakhouse chain a short drive east), and Local Public Eatery Kanata (a casual sit-down a short drive away). For pre-game eating in downtown Ottawa before driving west, Play Food & Wine in the ByWard Market is a destination small-plates sit-down. Beckta Dining and Wine Bar is the destination higher-end sit-down downtown. Heart & Crown ByWard is the destination ByWard Market Irish pub. BeaverTails Pastry ByWard Market is the iconic Ottawa pastry stop. Inside the arena, the team's premium-club dining and the standard concourse options anchor the gameday food program.
First-timer tips
Plan to arrive at least an hour before puck drop — the Highway 417 inbound traffic to Kanata stacks up significantly before evening home games, the lot ingress slows down on Battle of Ontario nights, and there is no rail option to the arena. The OC Transpo game-day express bus from downtown is the most practical car-free approach for visitors staying near the ByWard Market or Parliament Hill. The Senators' supporters scene anchors the building on rivalry nights — the team's 1990s-2010s era was one of the most consistent in Canadian hockey and the building still carries that identity despite quieter recent seasons. The Senators have publicly discussed building a new downtown arena at the LeBreton Flats site, with potential opening in the late 2020s or early 2030s — confirm the current home-arena status before booking long-lead-time travel. Mobile-only tickets are standard.
Best games to catch
Senators–Maple Leafs is the Battle of Ontario and the most reliable demand-spiking date of the home calendar — Toronto fans travel heavily and the building is consistently sold out for these games. Senators–Canadiens is the second-deepest Canadian rivalry and routinely sells out. Senators–Bruins, Senators–Red Wings, and Senators–Rangers are the Atlantic Division rivalry weekends. Visits from the original-six Canadian markets (Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames) draw strong crowds. Senators Stanley Cup playoff dates (the team reached the 2007 Stanley Cup Final and the 2017 Eastern Conference Final, both at this building) are the hardest tickets in Ottawa sports. The arena also hosts the Ottawa 67's (OHL junior hockey) for select dates, major concerts, and special events year-round.
What to know
The arena opened in January 1996 as The Palladium, was renamed Corel Centre in February 1996 after Corel Corporation, then Scotiabank Place in 2006, and became Canadian Tire Centre in July 2013 under a long-term naming-rights deal with the Canadian Tire retailer. It was built specifically for the Senators (the team had played at the Ottawa Civic Centre during the franchise's 1992 re-entry into the NHL) and has been the team's home throughout its modern history. The Senators reached the 2007 Stanley Cup Final at this building (losing to the Anaheim Ducks) and the 2017 Eastern Conference Final. The arena's Kanata location — 25 km west of downtown Ottawa — has been a long-running point of fan debate, and the Senators' ownership group has publicly pursued plans for a new downtown arena at the LeBreton Flats site near Parliament Hill. Confirm the current home-arena status on the team's official site before booking long-lead-time travel.
Frequently asked questions
What time do doors open at Canadian Tire Centre?
Doors typically open about 90 minutes before puck drop on standard Senators game nights, with earlier openings for premium-ticket holders and on certain promotional dates. Check the Senators' official gates and entry page for the current season's schedule.
How do I get to Canadian Tire Centre from downtown Ottawa?
OC Transpo runs game-day express bus routes from downtown Ottawa park-and-ride lots and from major suburban hubs — the team and OC Transpo publish the current game-day bus schedule each season. The drive west on Highway 417 takes roughly 25-30 minutes depending on traffic. There is no rail option to the arena.
Where can I park at Canadian Tire Centre?
Arena-affiliated and adjacent surface lots ring the venue. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats event-day pricing — particularly for Battle of Ontario games against the Maple Leafs.
Is Canadian Tire Centre the same as Scotiabank Place?
Yes — the arena was Scotiabank Place from 2006-2013, before being renamed Canadian Tire Centre in July 2013. It was previously Corel Centre (1996-2006) and originally opened as The Palladium in January 1996. It is the same Kanata arena that has been home to the Senators since 1996; only the name has changed.
Are the Senators moving to a new arena?
The Senators' ownership group has publicly pursued plans for a new downtown Ottawa arena at the LeBreton Flats site near Parliament Hill, with potential opening in the late 2020s or early 2030s. The project has faced multiple delays and changes over the years — confirm the current status and home-arena plan on the Senators' official site before booking long-lead-time travel.
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